It so happened that Lata Mangeshkar was recording the song ‘Tota Tota’ composed by Bappi Lahiri. Pahlaj NihalaniThe film ‘Love Letter’ (Manisha Koirala-Vivek Mushrani) Recording was taking place at Mehboob Studio (Bandra) in Mumbai.
After Lata ji sang it in its entirety, Nihalani’s personal opinion was that something was wrong. Nihalani felt that the song needed the singer to be a little more passionate in her singing.
After about 5 minutes Nihalani went to Bappi Lahiri present in the recording studio to ask Lata ji to give one more shot.
(Bappi Lahiri spoke to ETimes exclusively on video on a range of topics. The interview was first run by ETimes last evening. In case you missed it, click on the video below),
we don’t know bappi da Nihalani agreed but the disco king clearly told Nihalani that he could not muster up the courage to say such a thing to someone like Lata ji. “No, I can’t,” he told Nihalani bluntly.
And then Nihalani herself told Lata ji. Speaking to ETimes, Nihalani said, “I have to underline here that Lata ji sang it brilliantly. But I had no choice. As a filmmaker, I felt the song was a bit more. Need to get emotional.”
And then? Perhaps, Lata ji was not completely convinced with Nihalani’s point of view. Nightingale turned and said to Nihalani: ‘Listen to me singing’.
Next Nihalani was singing the song under consideration in front of Lata ji! Pahlaj further told ETimes, “Maybe not completely, but yes I sang the song to make my point.”
And, Lata ji sang the song again. “Tota Tota was a super hit. I keep saying that I am blessed to be working with extraordinary people like Lata Mangeshkar, Bappi Lahiri and more. SP Balasubramaniam among many others. Those days were…” Nihalani signed off. Sri Balasubramaniam was the male voice in ‘Parrot Parrot’.
We have lost both Lata ji and Bappi Da in 10 days. May their souls rest in peace. The music industry will never be the same again.
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